Electric relay



March'l, 1949. o. l. PRICE 2,462,894

ELECTRIC RELAY Fild Feb. 27, 1945. ETE- l /4' @d y Patented Mar. 1, 1949 ELECTRIC RELAY Osborne I. Price, Frederick, Md., assignor to Magnetic Devices, Inc., Frederick, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application February 27, 1945, Serial No. 579,936

(Cl. F75-336) 4 Claims. 1

My invention relates broadly to electric relays and more particularly to an improved construction of armature mounting for an electric relay.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved construction of electric relay capable of mass production at relatively low cost and having a high degree of mechanical and electrical eiliciency.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of mounting for the movable armature of an electric relay eliminating accurately aligned bearings and tension means of the customary design.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of pivotal mounting for the movable armature of an electric relay in which a tongue and groove connection is provided between the relay Aarmature and the relay frame for mounting the armature for angular displacement under control of the electromagnetic relay.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a 4construction of relay in which the assembly of an angularly displaceable armature with respect to a eld frame structure of a relay system may be effected without screw adjustment operations.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved yieldably controlled pivotal mounting for an angularly displaceable armature operative in association with a magnetic field structure of a relay system.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the improved arrangement of coacting spring and mounting means for an angularly clisplaceable armature in a relay system as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter .following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an electromagnetic relay constructed in accordance with my invention with parts broken away and shown in section for illustrating the arrangement of means for mounting the armature for angular displacement; Fig. 2 is an end elevation-al view of the electromagnetic relay system illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing in end view the angularly displaceable armature; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the relay system with parts broken away and illustrated in horizontal section; Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the relay illustrated in Figs. 1-3 and showing one form of spring pile-up assembly which is operated by the angularly displaceable armature; Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the angularly movable armature employed in the electromagnetic relay system of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the magnetic frame structure of the electromagnetic relay system showing the grooved arrangement of the end of the frame structure with respect to which the tongues on the relay armature coact for mounting the relay armature for angular displacement; Fig. 'l is a perspective view of the flat spring member which is supported adjacent the magnetic frame of the relay system and yieldably bears upon the rockable peripheral edge of the displaceable magnetic armature; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the capping plate which embraces the spring member illustrated in Fig. 7 and extends on opposite sides of the frame of the relay system to provide limiting abutments for the longitudinally extending arms of the armature; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the armature in unactuated position with the relay system cie-energized; and Fig. l0 is a corresponding sectional view showing the armature moved to actuated position when the electromagnetic system is energized. I

Referring to the drawings in detail reference character l indicates the magnetic frame structure of the relay system of my invention having an angularly extending portion la at one end and a groved portion lb at the opposite end. The grooved portion Ib includes a pair of lug portions lc and Id directed toward each other and forming retaining or confining ears coacting with oppositely disposed slots 2a and 2b in angularly displaceable magnetic armature 2. The oppositely disposed slots 2a and 2b are formed in steplike contour having a relatively narrow section at 2c and a wider section at 2d. The relatively narrow section at 2c readily passes between the lugs lc and Id when the armature is assembled with respect to the frame structure of the relay system by moving the armature endwise toward the frame structure. When the armature is assembled with respect to the frame structure by passing the relatively narrow section 2c thereof between the oppositely directed lug portions Ic and Id of the frame structure, the armature is then moved relative to the frame structure `to engage the wider section 2d of the armature in the grooved portion lb of the frame structure and confined by the lugs Ic and Id. The oppositely extending lug portions 2e and 2f of the armature are thus free to rock with respect to the frame structure l. That is to say, armature 2 is displaceable by angular movement with respect to frame structure I, one limiting position of which is illustrated in Fig. 9 and the other limiting position of which is illustrated in Fig. 10.

In order to allow controlled angular displacement of armature 2, I mount a leaf spring member 3 with respect to frame structure I yieldably engaging the peripheral edge portion 2g of armature 2. The leaf spring member 3 has a fiat securing portion 3a integrally connected therewith and apcrtured symmetrically throughout its surface area as represented at 3b, 3c, 3d and 3e. These apertures are aligned with screw-threaded apertures le, If, Ig and Ih in frame structure I.

A capping plate 4 shaped to embrace the frame structure I is engageable over frame structure I and over the fiat securing portion 3a of the leaf spring member 3. The capping plate 4 is provided with apertures 4b, 4c, 4d and 4e therein alignable with apertures 3b, 3c, 3d and 3e in flat securing portion 3a whereby screws 5 may be passed therethrough and engaged in screw-threaded apertures Ig, Ih, If and Ie in the frame structure I for securing the leaf spring member 3 in position. Capping plate 4 has side members which extend on opposite sides of frame structure I as represented at 4f and 4g terminating in limiting abutmentmembers 4h and 4i as shown. These abutment members 4h and 4i serve as limiting stops for the arms 5 and 6 which extend from opposite sides of armature 2 restricting the displacement of the armature under de-energized conditions of the electromagnetic relay. The arms 5 and 6 are stamped integrally with the central portion of the armature 2 and each includes an upwardly projecting lug '5a and 6a on the end of the offset portions 5b and 6b of arms 5 and 6. It will be observed that the armature stam-ping is preformed in very special manner with arms 5 and B extending transversely on opposite sides of armature 2 as represented at 5c and 6c and then being provided with an offset portion 5d and 6d terminating in arms 5b and 6b. The upper edges of the arms 5b and Eb are substantially aligned with the lower edges of the lug portions 2e and 2f for thus symmetrically balancing the relay armature in a dynamic manner.

The upwardly projecting lugs 5a and 6a serve as means for supporting insulator members which I have shown generally at y1. These insulator members have a sleeve-like portion operative to lit over the upstanding lug portion of the armature arm for securing the insulator in position for operation of the associated spring pile-up assembly. Various arrangements of spring pile-up assemblies may be employed and for purposes of illustrating my invention I have limited the disclosure to a simple arrangement of two fixed contacts 8 and 9 carried by leaf springs 8a and 9a respectively mounted in insulated relation by means of a superimposed stack of insulation members which I have represented at I0, II, I2 and I3 secured by means of plate I4 and screws I5. An intermediate movable double contact represented at IIi-II is carried by the intermediate leaf spring I9 supported in insulated relation to leaf springs 8a and 9a by means of the stack of insulators Ill-I3. Leaf spring I9 is adapted to be moved under control of insulator 'I as armature 2 is angularly displaced. In the de-energized condition of the electromagnetic relay system armature 2 is displaced in the positions illustrated in positions I 4 and 9 in which position leaf spring I9 yieldably maintains contact I 6 into connection with contact I8. Upon energization of the electromagnetic relay system armature 2 is displaced to the position illustrated in Fig. 10 in which position insulator 'I displaces leaf spring I9 to a position in which contact I'I establishes connection with contact 9 while breaking connection between contact I6 and contact 8. The constant resiliency or yieldability of leaf spring I9 is such that armature 2 is normally continuo'usly urged to the position illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 9.

The electromagnetic operating means which controls the displacement of armature 2 comprises magnetic core 20 on which there is secured the metallic end flange 2| serving as a. backing plate for the end member22 formed from insulation material such as cellulose acetate against which the turns of magnetic winding 23 are wound. The magnetic core 20 is enclosed by a. tubular sleeve of insulation material such as ce1- lulose acetate which I have represented at 24. The opposite end of the core 20 is embraced by an end member of insulation material such as cellulose acetate which I have represented at 25 which has imbedded therein the terminal members which I have indicated at 26 and 21. Terminal members 26 and 21 each have coextensive lug portions 26a and 21a providing terminals for the ends of the coil represented at 23, and provide terminals for external connection to an electricalA circuit, The end member 25 is provided with a backing plate represented at 28 serving as an abutment means for preventing curling or -displacement of the insulation material of the end member 25. The backing plate 28 is slotted as represented at 29 in Fig. 2 to reduce eddy current losses due to thc effect of the short-circuited ring in the eld of the relay winding.

The magnetic core 20 is secured to magnetic frame I of the relay by means of screw 30 which extends through aperture Ii in the angularly extending portion Ia of frame I and is screwthreaded into the end of the magnetic core 20 as represented at 20a.

The activity of the core member. 20 is represented at 20h in spacial relation to magnetic armature 2. Magnetic armature 2 through its suspension by oppositely extending lug portions 2e and 2f, bearing upon the surface of magnetic frame I, is normally biased by means of fiat leaf spring member 3 bearing upon the intermediate peripheral edge portion 2g of armature 2 to the position illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 9 supplemented by the bias effected by leaf spring I9 and other leaf springs of the associated spring pile-up assembly effective through the insulators carried by the arms 5 and B of the armature. It will be observed that leaf spring 3 exerts a yieldable force against armature 2 with leaf spring 3 continuously in fiat surface contact with the peripheral edge portion 2g of armature 2. Howevr, upon energization of relay winding 23 magnetic armature 2 is rocked under the activation of the head 20h of magnetic core 20 to the position illustrated in Fig. 10 in which the peripheral edge portion 2g of armature 2 rocks away from surface engagement with leaf spring member 3 until leaf spring 3 is merely in substantial linear contact engagement with armature 2, but in a state of dynamic activity in which leaf spring 3 constantly urges armature 2 through a rocking movement or path of angular displacement to assume the normal position illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 9. The effect of leaf spring member 3 is to exert an influence upon the peripheral edge of armature 2 tending to tilt armature 2 to a projected position angularly displaced from the end of core 20h of the magnetic system instantly operative for displacement from the position illustrated in Fig. 9 to the position illustrated in Fig. 10.

The relay system of my invention employs a minimum number of parts for assembly in a very small number of operations by relatively unskilled labor thereby facilitating mass production at relatively low cost. The form of my invention shown has been found extremely practical for manufacture and production, but I realize that modications may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts of the relay system and I intend no limitations upon my invention other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows;

1. In an electric relay, a frame structure, an electromagnetic core member carried by said frame structure, said frame structure having an open end portion with a pair of symmetrically disposed lug portions coextensive with said frame structure and directed toward each other and an armature arranged adjacent said electromagnetic core member, said armature having a multiplicity of transverse zones increasing from a dimension sufficient to clear the open end portion of said frame structure through a dimension substantially conforming with the maximum distance between the bases of the lug portions of said frame structure to a dimension extending beyond the bases of the lug portions of said frame structure whereby said armature may be passed through the open end portion of said frame structure and mounted in a position in which the transverse portion thereof which extends beyond the bases of said lug portions are rockably mounted on said frame structure for permitting said armature to be spacially angularly displaced with respect to said electromagnetic core member.

2. In an electric relay, a frame structure, an electromagnetic core member carried by said frame structure, said frame structure having an open end portion with a pair of symmetrically disposed lug portions coextensive with said frame structure and directed toward each other and an armature arranged adjacent said electromagnetic core member, said armature having a progressively increasing transverse dimension adjacent one edge thereof with the minimum transverse dimension suiiicient to clear the distance between the lug portions of said frame structure and the maximum transverse dimension suicient to engage the lug portions of said frame structure for rockably mounting said armature with respect to said frame structure and allowing spacial displacement thereof with respect to said electromagnetic core member.

3. In an electric relay, a frame structure, an electromagnetic core member carried by said frame structure, said frame structure having an open end portion with a pair of symmetrically disposed lug portions coextensive with said frame structure and directed toward each other and an armature arranged adjacent said electromagnetic core member, said armature having step-like transversely aligned serrations on opposite edges thereof, varying in dimension from a relatively narrow transverse dimension to a relatively long transverse dimension through an intermediate transverse dimension whereby said armature at its minimum transverse dimension may be passed between the lug portions of said frame armature and moved to a position in which the intermediate transverse dimension of said armature is enveloped by said lug portions and the longer transverse dimension of said armature establishes plane contact with the plane surface of said frame structure in a position in which said armature is free to rock angularly with respect to said frame structure in spacial relation to said electromagnetic core member.

4. In an electric relay, a frame structure, an

Velectromagnetic core member carried by said frame structure, a capping plate embracive of said frame structure, a at longitudinally extending spring member, means extending through said capping plate and said spring member for `mounting said capping plate and spring member on said frame structure, an armature journaled with respect to said frame structure for movement with respect to said electromagnetic core member, a pair of arms connected with said armature and extending on opposite sides of said frame structure, said at spring member having the plane flat surface thereof engaging the edge of said armature for maintaining said armature in maximum spaced position in the inactivated condition of said electromagnetic core member, and a pair of abutment stops integrally connected with said capping plate and projecting to positions adjacent said arms for limiting the movement of said arms and the maximum angular displacement of said armature with respect to said electro-magnetic core structure.

OSBORNE I. PRICE.

REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS `Number Name Date 1,577,031 Kaisling Mar. 16, 1926 1,696,082 Forstrom Dec. 18, 1928 2,233,925 Stimson Mar. 4, 1941 2,235,861 Wood Mar. 25, 1941 2,290,444 Nelson July 21, 1942 2,368,201 Clare Jan. 30, 1945 

